District sets up special account for community donations after Preble gym fire

Damage inside Green Bay Preble High School is seen Aug. 10, 2014, two days after a fire. (Green Bay Area Public School District photo)

GREEN BAY – Green Bay Area Public School District officials say they aren’t asking the community for monetary support, following a fire in the Preble High School gym.

Insurance will likely cover much – if not all – of the replacement costs. However, the district is working on ways to find use for any money coming in.Like from Cousins Subs in Allouez.

"After hearing about Preble on Friday, we set things in motion to help them out as well," said General Manager Josh Noffsinger.

Noffsinger says the sub shop on south Webster Avenue will donate 20-percent of sales made in a four hour period Wednesday evening, as well as any donations dropped in a bucket on the counter.

"After seeing the way that the community came together at the (Green Bay) Bullfrogs (baseball) game on Friday night, we realized how big of an impact it made."

The Bullfrogs pulled together $880 between a 50-50 raffle and donation collection at one of the season’s last home games. Noffsinger expects to collect a couple hundred dollars – with Cousins' corporate foundation matching that. An employee told FOX 11 Thursday morning the store expects to donate more than $480 to the district.

"It brings the community together, shows our support for local high schools," said Noffsinger. "Out of the two locations for the franchise, it makes more sense for us to do it."

The sub shop is miles away from the school, but the only location on the city’s east side.

"Has there been a decision as to how this money will be collected - if at all - or used?" FOX 11’s Bill Miston asked the school district’s chief financial officer.

"I've set up a special account for Preble High School," Alan Wagner replied.

Wagner says the district is not sponsoring any fundraising efforts from the public, and is working to see what the money could be used for, if at all. However, he says the district appreciates the concern and support from the community.

"As soon as we can determine what can be kept and what may need to be thrown away, the restoration company can come in and start cleaning the classrooms,” said Wagner. “The sooner the classrooms can get cleaned, the further along we will be."

There may be other uses for the money, like replacing school supplies in classrooms. Wagner says teachers are in the process of trying to figure out what can be saved.